Caestus
caestus

In-Game Description

Weapon used to strike with one's fists.
The thick leather covering bears iron studs,
and protects the hands while augmenting
their striking power.

Attacks with the fists are solely dependent on
one's strength. With this weapon, any encounter
becomes a brawl.

Availability

Dark Souls 2 & Scholar of the First Sin:

  • Brume Tower treasure (upgraded to +8). Starting from the Upper Floors Bonfire, leave the small room and take a left.
    In the next room will be a couple of Ashen Warriors, one of which is guarding a wooden chest right which contains the weapon.

General Information

Name Damage Aux Effects Counter
Strength
Poise
Damage
Stats Needed
Stat Bonuses
Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Stability Durability Weight Enchantable?
Items/Spells
caestus-lg.png 45/0/0/0/0

(Strike)
0/0 130 15 10/7/0/0

A/B/-/-/-/-
30/10/20/20/30 10/10/10/10 5 60 0.5 Yes/Yes

Move Set

Notes

  • "Caestus" is pronounced "KAI-stus" - it is formed of the Latin root "cae(s)", as in "caesura", which means "to cut" or (perhaps more likely in this case) "to kill",
    and the suffix "tus", which denotes a class, position, or action of a given entity.
  • Being a fist weapon, its strikes consume little stamina. Power wielding caestuses allow for many rapid strikes, making them an excellent weapon against foes with little poise.
  • Cannot be infused with Bleed.
    • You can still deal bleeding damage when you enchant the weapon with a Bleeding Serum (Note: It can't be infused with anything).

Upgrades

Basic

Standard upgrade path.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Materials Cost Souls
Caestus +0 45/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- - -
Caestus +1 49/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 1x Titanite Shard 250
Caestus +2 54/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 2x Titanite Shard 320
Caestus +3 58/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 3x Titanite Shard 380
Caestus +4 63/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 1x Large Titanite Shard 500
Caestus +5 67/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 2x Large Titanite Shard 570
Caestus +6 72/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 3x Large Titanite Shard 630
Caestus +7 76/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 1x Titanite Chunk 750
Caestus +8 81/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 2x Titanite Chunk 820
Caestus +9 85/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/B/-/-/-/- 3x Titanite Chunk 880
Caestus +10 90/0/0/0/0 0/0 A/A/-/-/-/- 1x Titanite Slab 1,000

Infusions

Magic

Reduces: Base damage, STR and DEX stat bonuses, damage and aux effects reduction.
Adds/Increases: Base magic damage, INT stat bonus, magic damage reduction.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Magic Caestus +0 31/31/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/C/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +1 34/34/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/C/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +2 37/37/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/C/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +3 40/40/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +4 44/44/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +5 47/47/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +6 50/50/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +7 53/53/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +8 56/56/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +9 59/59/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Magic Caestus +10 63/63/0/0/0 0/0 B/C/B/-/-/- 27.9/26.6/17.9/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9

Fire

Reduces: Base damage, STR and DEX stat bonuses, damage and aux effects reduction.
Adds/Increases: Base fire damage, INT and FTH stat bonus, fire damage reduction.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Fire Caestus +0 31/0/31/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/C/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +1 34/0/34/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/C/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +2 37/0/37/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/C/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +3 40/0/40/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +4 44/0/44/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +5 47/0/47/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +6 50/0/50/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +7 53/0/53/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +8 56/0/56/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +9 59/0/59/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Fire Caestus +10 63/0/63/0/0 0/0 B/C/-/B/-/- 27.9/7.9/36.6/17.9/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9

Lightning

Reduces: Base damage, STR and DEX stat bonuses, damage and aux effects reduction.
Adds/Increases: Base lightning damage, FTH stat bonus, lightning damage reduction.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Lightning Caestus +0 31/0/0/31/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/C/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +1 34/0/0/34/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/C/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +2 37/0/0/37/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/C/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +3 40/0/0/40/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +4 44/0/0/44/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +5 47/0/0/47/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +6 50/0/0/50/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +7 53/0/0/53/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +8 56/0/0/56/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +9 59/0/0/59/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Lightning Caestus +10 63/0/0/63/0 0/0 B/C/-/-/B/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/36.6/27.9 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9

Dark

Reduces: Base damage, STR and DEX stat bonuses, damage and aux effects reduction.
Adds/Increases: Base dark damage, INT and FTH stat bonus, dark damage reduction.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Dark Caestus +0 31/0/0/0/31 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/C 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +1 34/0/0/0/34 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/C 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +2 37/0/0/0/37 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/C 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +3 40/0/0/0/40 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +4 44/0/0/0/44 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +5 47/0/0/0/47 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +6 50/0/0/0/50 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +7 53/0/0/0/53 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +8 56/0/0/0/56 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +9 59/0/0/0/59 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9
Dark Caestus +10 63/0/0/0/63 0/0 B/C/-/-/-/B 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/46.6 7.9/7.9/7.9/7.9

Poison

Reduces: Base damage, STR and DEX stat bonuses, damage and aux effects reduction.
Adds/Increases: Base poison damage, poison damage reduction.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Poison Caestus +0 31/0/0/0/0 112/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +1 34/0/0/0/0 114/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +2 37/0/0/0/0 117/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +3 40/0/0/0/0 120/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +4 44/0/0/0/0 123/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +5 47/0/0/0/0 126/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +6 50/0/0/0/0 128/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +7 53/0/0/0/0 131/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +8 56/0/0/0/0 134/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +9 59/0/0/0/0 137/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9
Poison Caestus +10 63/0/0/0/0 140/0 B/C/-/-/-/- 27.9/7.9/17.9/17.9/27.9 26.6/7.9/7.9/7.9

Raw

Reduces: Stat bonuses.
Adds/Increases: Base damage.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Raw Caestus +0 51/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +1 56/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +2 62/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +3 67/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +4 72/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +5 77/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +6 82/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +7 87/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +8 93/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +9 98/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Raw Caestus +10 103/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0

Enchanted

Reduces: Stat bonuses.
Adds/Increases: INT stat bonus (excluding weapons that have base magic damage).
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Enchanted Caestus +0 45/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +1 49/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +2 54/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +3 58/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +4 63/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/E/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +5 67/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +6 72/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +7 76/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +8 81/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +9 85/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/D/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Enchanted Caestus +10 90/0/0/0/0 0/0 D/D/C/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0

Mundane

Reduces: Base damage, stat bonuses.
Adds/Increases: Damage scaling from lowest stat.
Requires:

Name Damage Aux Effects Stat Bonuses Damage
Reduction
Aux Effects
Reduction
Mundane Caestus +0 22/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +1 24/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +2 27/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +3 29/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +4 31/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +5 33/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +6 36/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +7 38/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +8 40/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +9 42/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0
Mundane Caestus +10 45/0/0/0/0 0/0 C/D/-/-/-/- 30.0/10.0/20.0/20.0/30.0 10.0/10.0/10.0/10.0

Key

Damage:

The Damage stat dictates how much damage the weapon does. The Damage stats for a weapon are A / B / C / D / E:

  • A is Physical Damage
  • B is Magical Damage
  • C is Fire Damage
  • D is Lightning Damage
  • E is Dark Damage

Each weapon has one or more physical damage types:

  • Striking
  • Slashing
  • Thrusting

Certain enemies are weak or strong against different damage types.
See Weakness for physical reduction, Resistance for elemental reduction.

Aux Effect:

The Aux Effect stat dictates how effective the weapon will be at causing the effect. The Aux Effect stats for a weapon are A / B:

Counter Strength: Damage multiplier when hitting an enemy that is performing an action such as attacking. Value of 100 means no extra damage.
Poise Damage: The ability of the weapon to break the poise of an enemy.
Stats Needed:

The Stats Needed determines how high various Stats must be in order to wield the weapon effectively.
The stats required for a weapon are A / B / C / D:

Wielding a weapon without the required Strength and/or Dexterity will incur a penalty to the Physical damage of the weapon,
while lower-than-required Magic and/or Faith will reduce the Magic damage of the weapon.

Also keep in mind that your character gains a 100% bonus to Strength by wielding a weapon with both hands, thus reducing
the actual Strength required. For example, a character with 14 Strength can wield a Great Club (Requires 28 Strength)
properly if the weapon is held with both hands. (14 x 2 = 28)

Stat Bonuses:

The Stat Bonuses rating indicates the level of bonus damage you do with the weapon, based on the associated Stat.
This rating can be S, A, B, C, D, or E (in order from most to least bonus for the associated skill).
See Scaling for more information.
The Bonus Stats for a weapon are A/B/C/D/E/F:

  • A is the Strength stat bonus that influences the physical attack of the weapon.
  • B is the Dexterity stat bonus that influences the physical attack of the weapon.
  • C is the Intelligence stat bonus that influences the Magical attack of the weapon.
  • D is the Intelligence and Faith stat bonus that influences the Fire attack of the weapon.
  • E is the Faith stat bonus that influences the Lightning attack of the weapon.
  • F is the Intelligence or Faith stat bonus that influence the Dark attack of the weapon(The lower of the two stats is chosen as the bonus stat).
Damage Reduction:

The Damage Reduction % of the weapon. It dictates how much damage the weapon mitigates while blocking.
The Damage Reduction % stats for weapons are A / B / C / D / E :

  • A is Physical Damage
  • B is Magical Damage
  • C is Fire Damage
  • D is Lightning Damage
  • E is Dark Damage
Aux Effect Reduction:

The Aux Effect Reduction % of the weapon. It dictates how much of the effect the weapon mitigates while blocking.
The Aux Effect Reduction % stats for a weapon are A / B / C / D:

Stability: Determines the amount of stamina expended to block an incoming attack. A higher stability also allows you to block stronger
attacks without breaking guard and reduces the amount of stamina depleted from blocking attacks.
Durability: The durability of the weapon.
Weight: The weight of the weapon. Note that carrying over 70% of your Equip Weight will reduce the speed of your rolls, while going
over 100% will reduce your regular speed to walking and attempts to roll or backstep will leave you momentarily stunned.
Enchantable? Items/Spells: Determines whether or not the weapon can receive a temporary damage buff by items and/or spells. Note that if you decided
to infuse the weapon it cannot be enchanted by items.
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